168 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



that ma}- flourish under certain conditions iu one State may fail 

 altogether in another part of the country ; and without comparing 

 remote localities we may take, for iiistnnce, two places close to- 

 gether, one on a hill and the other in low ground, and you could 

 not grow the same plant with like results, under similar treatment, 

 in those two places. Then again, the soil is not the same in every 

 garden ; and various other conditions that are required by these 

 plants must be regarded. This plainly demonstrates that no com- 

 plete rules can be laid down in definite form. 



The best book to consult is the book of Nature, that lies open 

 before everybody. That is, one must study the plants themselves, 

 so as to know in what part of the country they grow, at what ele- 

 vation, and in what soil ; to know the exposure and average tem- 

 perature and humidity ; to know the size of the plant, its habit, 

 its flowers, and its growing and resting seasons. 



With such knowledge you will be able to imitate nature as far 

 as practicable, which is the real and only way to success. By 

 knowing the habit and flowers of any plant you will know in what 

 place it is adapted to produce the best effect. By knowing the 

 natural station you will know how and in what soil to plant it. 

 By knowing the temperature and atmospheric conditions it re- 

 quires you will know how to bestow your attention and care upon 

 it to the best advantage ; and at last, with patient waiting, yon 

 will be sure to reap a harvest of flowers that will repa\' you tenfold 

 for your trouble and labor. 



1 cannot close this paper without mentioning the very interest- 

 ing collections exhibited the past year by Mrs. P. D. Richards, 

 Mr. F>. II. Hitchings, Miss JNIary L. Vinal, Mr. Severance Bur.- 

 rage, and Masters Frank C. Hyde and Walter E. Coburn. These 

 displays have been very attractive as well as instructive to the 

 general public. I hope that it will not be considered out of place 

 if I add that this Society, which has done so much for the cause of 

 Horticulture in general, would do well to offer special inducements 

 for the cultivation of Native Plants, and likewise for the improve- 

 ment of an}' variety, or for the raising of any hybrids that should 

 prove of horticultural interest. 



